Just then, Director Wang spoke, “Since all three of your courtyard’s managers are here, break down the door. See what’s going on inside and bring out He Da Qing.”
“Alright, pry open this lock.”
Liu Hai Zhong, seizing an opportunity to show off, quickly found tools and began to pry open the lock.
The courtyard residents were buzzing with discussion, but no one was clear about what had happened.
“Crack!”
The lock was pried open, and everyone was dumbfounded by the sight inside.
There were two suitcases on the table, and the room was in disarray, as if it had been robbed.
“No good, this is definitely packing to run.”
Yan Bu Gui felt that he was about to earn merit.
“He Da Qing planned this in advance, he must be an enemy agent. He’s been hiding it well. This is stolen goods, protect it!”
Liu Hai Zhong waved his hand, excited about catching an enemy agent. Maybe he could even become a team leader in the factory.
At the entrance, Qin Huai Ru whispered, “Brother Li, what’s going on?”
Li Wu Wei was stunned. This couldn’t be right. He just turned down a white widow, and now He Da Qing was being labelled as an enemy agent?
Is this world really so unjust? Couldn’t justice prevail?
“I don’t know either. Let’s see what Director Wang says. That woman, she’s the street committee director.”
He took the opportunity to introduce her to Qin Huai Ru. She was new to the courtyard and didn’t know many people.
Just then, a voice came from behind them. It was He Da Qing.
“What are you doing, barging into my house?”
Good heavens, everyone turned their heads and saw, if it wasn’t He Da Qing, who else could it be? Was he throwing himself into a trap?
“He Da Qing, you enemy agent! Confess quickly!”
Liu Hai Zhong almost leaped up, rushing outside, through the crowd, and grabbed He Da Qing.
“Confess what?”
He Da Qing was completely bewildered. He had waited for a long time outside, but the white widow hadn’t shown up. It was already past their agreed-upon time.
He couldn’t wait any longer. He was worried that Sha Zhu and his daughter would come back and block him, so he could only go home, pack his luggage, and go to the train station. Maybe he could meet up with the white widow there.
“You enemy agent! Do you want to escape the country?”
Liu Hai Zhong held onto He Da Qing tightly, his body trembling, ecstatic about his big achievement.
“Old Liu, what nonsense are you talking about? My family has been peasant farmers for three generations. I’m no enemy agent.”
He Da Qing quickly explained. He couldn’t have that hat placed on his head.
Yan Bu Gui also came out and asked, “Old He, if you’re not an enemy agent, why did you resign today? Why give up your job as a chef at the steel mill? Why deliberately send Sha Zhu and Yu Shui away?
And your house, it’s all turned upside down. You have your bags packed. You were obviously trying to run.”
“I really am not an enemy agent. I… I… Sigh!”
He Da Qing didn’t know how to say it.
Director Wang approached with her people and said, “He Da Qing, be honest. If you can’t explain yourself, you’ll be arrested today.”
“Director Wang, I… Sigh, I found a wife, and we made plans to take the train to Baoding tonight. I’m not coming back.”
He Da Qing’s face turned red. He was forced to say it out loud.
Li Wu Wei was also a bit dumbfounded. This was definitely a large-scale social death scene, it would definitely cause a stir.
“What? You want to run away to Baoding with her? Why?”
Director Wang was puzzled. He Da Qing was single, there was no need for him to run off to marry.
“She’s a widow. She has two children. She can’t marry here. I have to go there.”
He Da Qing had given up trying to save face. He just wanted the white widow. She was young and beautiful, ten years younger than him. Where could you find a wife like that?
“Do you have any proof?”
Director Wang was very calm. This wasn’t the time for gossip.
“Yes. I met with her this afternoon outside the courtyard. She didn’t come, but she bought tickets for the 8pm train to Baoding. I was just about to grab my luggage and go to the station to find her.”
He Da Qing had to explain clearly, otherwise, he might really be mistaken for an enemy agent.
“Then go find her.”
Director Wang made a quick decision to go to the train station to find the woman and ask her for clarification.
“Alright, let me take my luggage.”
He Da Qing was about to go back into the house. He couldn’t leave it behind, all his belongings were inside.
Yi Zhong Hai couldn’t help but say, “Old He, you’re still leaving? You’re abandoning Sha Zhu and Yu Shui? You have your own children.”
“Old Yi, I know. Sha Zhu has a job now. He can support Yu Shui. I have to consider myself as well.”
He Da Qing walked into the house dejectedly and quickly came out with two bundles.
But Director Wang said, “We’ll take your luggage for now. We’ll return it to you after the investigation is complete.”
“Okay!”
He Da Qing didn’t dare linger. Everyone pointed fingers at him. He quickly handed over his luggage to the staff and left the courtyard dejectedly.
Director Wang, along with the three elders and the police officers, followed him to the Front Gate train station, which was near Zhengyangmen.
It was about five or six kilometers from the Dongzhimen courtyard, which was quite a distance. They had to take a car. It would take over an hour to walk.
“How can He Da Qing do this? Abandon his children and go raise other people’s children?”
“From the sound of it, that woman has two children. Isn’t she a widow? This is simply immoral.”
“Could it be that He Da Qing is really an enemy agent? Is he just making this up to deceive us?”
“It’s not possible, right? He’s lived in the courtyard for decades. This house is Old He’s ancestral home…”
Everyone in the middle courtyard chatted about gossip, waiting for the final outcome.
Qin Huai Ru went back to cook. Li Wu Wei stayed. He couldn’t miss this big event. After all, he wasn’t going to work tomorrow, or ever again. He had all the time in the world.
After a while, Sha Zhu returned.
A big aunt shouted, “Sha Zhu, big news! Your father ran away with a widow!”
“Hey, Chen Da Ma, don’t pull my leg. My dad wouldn’t run off. He was still cooking in the factory this afternoon.”
Sha Zhu didn’t take it seriously, thinking it was a joke.
“Sha Zhu, your dad really ran away! He resigned from the steel mill, took his luggage, and left. Don’t you believe me, go home and see.”
Second Aunt came forward and gave Sha Zhu a brutal blow.
Sha Zhu realized something was wrong. There were so many people gathered in the middle courtyard. Could something really be wrong? He also saw Li Wu Wei.
Li Wu Wei nodded and said, “Sha Zhu, I’m sorry for your loss!”
“I… Li Wu Wei, you wait for me.”
Sha Zhu rushed home and saw that his father’s things were gone. Had someone robbed his house? Looking in the cupboard, he found that his father’s things were all gone.